What to do May 15-22

Checkout Challenge

Embark on an exciting shopping adventure with the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry’s Checkout Challenge program. Designed for young explorers, this interactive experience transforms the museum’s grocery store exhibit into a bustling marketplace where children become savvy shoppers, learning valuable life skills while having a blast. This event runs Wednesdays and Fridays in May and is free with paid museum admission.
May 14 and May 23. 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry. 25 Ann St. Downtown. explorecml.org

Bouquet-making and tea party

Spend an afternoon of blooms, brews and beautiful moments at the next installment of the Clerks Cue Series and escape into a world of flowers and fine tea. Choose from a curated selection of fresh flowers and elegant vases to design your own unique floral arrangement, all while enjoying delicate teas served in dainty mugs.
May 22. 5:30 p.m. $30/person. Clerks Coffee. 181 Church St. Downtown. hotelemeline.com

Sunday Brunch Farmers Market

Head to The Pour House on James Island for a 100% local market brimming with more than 40 local farmers and artisans, a deck bar, live music, good eats and all kinds of amazing area-made goods. Cap off your weekend by kicking back, enjoying the local tunes and stocking up on unique goodies. This farmers market is open every Sunday between April and January.
Sundays. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free to attend. The Pour House. 1977 Maybank Hwy. James Island. sundaybrunchfarmersmarket.com

Fossil Fridays at Charleston Museum

Unravel the mysteries of the past with Fossil Fridays at the Charleston Museum, hosted by curator of natural history Matthew Gibson. A great opportunity for families of history lovers and dinosaur addicts, this weekly event lets you get hands-on experience with different fossils found in the Lowcountry and elsewhere. Gibson will also share what projects he is currently working on and help you identify your own fossil finds.
Every Friday. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free for members; free with museum admission. Charleston Museum. 360 Meeting St. Downtown. charlestonmuseum.org

James Island Wellness Festival

Get ready for the first-ever James Island Wellness Festival! Hosted by The Flow Co Yoga and Wellness, this all-day event is your invitation to move, connect and grow — mind, body and soul. Join a team of instructors for a full lineup of yoga, pilates, cycling, breathwork and more in a vibrant, inclusive space where you can explore all things wellness with your local community.
May 17. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. $50/ticket. Point Break Coffee. 520 Folly Road. James Island. theflowcowellness.com/ji-wellness-festival

Arts + Music

Fashion, music event is May 17 at IAAM

The International African American Arts Museum and Highest In the Room (HITR) present the 4th Annual Gullah Gala Fashion and Music Experience: “The Gullah Gatsby.”
The event, which is 5:45 p.m. to 9 p.m.

May 17, is a cultural couture fashion and music experience celebrating the rich heritage of the Gullah Geechee culture and the African Diaspora. The dress code is Gatsby/Roaring 1920s attire. Tickets start at $80 and can be purchased at bit.ly/gullahgala. Location: 14 Wharfside St., Charleston.

ARTS

May 17, 2 p.m.: Artist talk with image-maker Joshua Parks on his first solo museum exhibition. Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, 161 Calhoun St., Charleston, halsey.cofc.edu.
May 18, 2:30 p.m.: The day following the gala at the IAAM, HITR will host “Wha Gwan?: Dandy Disclosure,” a panel discussion featuring celebrity stylish Quentin Thrash. It will be held at a private location to be disclosed to ticket holders. Tickets are available at bit.ly/gullahgalapanel.
May 18, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.: The Holy City Brewing Book Fair, in collaboration with Charleston Friends of the Library, transforms the brewery’s tap room into a free fair with a pop-up book sale of titles for all ages, vintage T-shirts and local authors including Roger Newman, author of the newly released Boys. Location: 1021 Aragon Ave., North Charleston.

MUSIC

May 16, 9 p.m.: 2 Slices + Rotoglow, Royal American, downtown.
May 16, 6 p.m.: Andrew Scotchie, Pour House.
May 22 and 23, 8 p.m.: Umphrey’s McGee, The Windjammer.
May 23, 8 p.m.: Sturgill Simpson, Credit One Stadium. New album just released.
May 24, 8 p.m.: Keith Urban, Credit One Stadium.
May 24, 9 p.m.: The Simplicity (local), Royal American. Album-release show.

A la carte

What’s new

Nashville-based Pelato opened its first restaurant outside of the Music City this week in Charleston in the Morrison Drive space formerly used by Butcher and Bee. If you’re looking for Italian-American style fare featuring small plates, this is the place to go. With 180 seats, it can accommodate busy Spoleto crowds in a setting that still feels cozy. Enjoy fresh-pulled mozzarella and yummy crostini with a garlicky tomato spread on toasted sesame with whipped burrata. You can savor several kinds of meats and fish, including baked clams and big meatballs that melt in your mouth. Open seven days a week starting at 5 p.m. More: pelatorestaurant.com

Shem Creek’s Sunsets recently released a new menu and updated website to reflect some updates. New menu items include dishes like lobster and crab dip, grouper bites, buffalo shrimp and a variety of raw and steamed selections, from oysters Rockefeller to steamed mussels and tuna poke. Guests can also order sushi from both the upstairs and downstairs dining rooms. Sunsets is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Learn more at sunsetswaterfrontdining.com.

What’s hot

Pitmaster Pat Martin, the chef/owner of the South’s popular barbecue restaurants, Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint (locally, find Martin’s on James Island), is the star of the Outdoor Channel’s Life of Fire. Season two of the show, which dives deeper into American live fire traditions, aired earlier this month. Two Charleston-based chefs, Jason Stanhope and James London, will appear in episodes this season. Catch episodes every Monday at 9 p.m. on the Outdoor Channel.

What’s happening

Get your tickets now for a winemaker’s lunch ($85/per person) at Hotel Bennett’s Gabrielle, to be held from noon to 2 p.m. on May 23. Erica Crawford, co-founder of Kim Crawford Wines and the founder of Loveblock wine will discuss her journey as a winemaker while guests sip on the fruits of her labor. Learn more and make a reservation at hotelbennett.com.

Check out our calendar for more events around town!

Need to sell tickets to your next event? Sale them on citypapertickets.com. Contact sales@charlestoncitypaper.com for more information.